Chrysanthemum plant named Sarah

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Sarah particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; quilled decorative capitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of from 63 to 75 mm when fully opened; average plant height with spreading and prolific branching pattern; average natural season flowering date of September 4 in Salinas, Calif. and October 5 in Hightstown, N.J.; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days in photoperiodic controlled flowering programs; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Sarah.

Sarah, identified as 85-070004, was originated by the inventor CornelisP. VandenBerg from a cross made in a controlled breeding program inSalinas, Calif., in 1985.

The female parent of Sarah was the cultivar identified as Debonair, apink decorative disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,324. The male parentof Sarah was an unnamed seedling, identified as 80-N05003, andcharacterized by its heavily petalled single quill daisy form, andyellow flower color.

Sarah was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in January 1986,in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Sarah was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in April 1986in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians workingunder the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Sarah are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Sarah has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif. and in Hightstown,N.J., and photoperiodic controlled programs conducted in Salinas, Calif.Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoors underthe natural temperature and daylength prevailing during June throughOctober. Single pinching was practiced with all branches and budsretained.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Sarah, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Quilled decorative capitulum type.

3. Butterscotch-bronze ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 63-75 mm when fully opened.

5. Average plant height of 33 cm from soil line at time of floweringbased on June 14 planting in Hightstown, N.J.

6. Spreading and prolific branching pattern, averaging 7-8 branches perplant after pinch two weeks after planting a rooted cutting inHightstown, N.J.

7. Average natural season flowering date of September 4 in Salinas,Calif., and October 5 in Hightstown, N.J., based on several years oftrial flowering.

8. Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days inphotoperiodic controlled flowering programs.

9. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Sarah, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Sarah grown as pinched spray pot mum ina 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Sarah.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Sarah at three stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

The combination of capitulum type and ray floret color is notrepresented in any commercial garden mum cultivar known to the inventor.A cultivar with a capitulum type most similar in comparison to Sarah isthe cultivar identified as Ballerina, a white quilled decorativedisclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,440. Reference is made to attachedChart A which compares certain characteristics of Sarah to the samecharacteristics of Ballerina.

Similar traits are capitulum form and a somewhat similar capitulum type.Sarah is yellow-orange, while Ballerina is white. Sarah also has a morespreading and prolific branching pattern, a slower controlled response,and a later natural season flowering date than Ballerina.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The exact floret color of Sarah isnot represented in the R.H.S. Colour Chart, and the color values givenare those closest to the actual color of Sarah. The color values weredetermined on plant material grown in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Salinas, Calif. on Sept. 20, 1989.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Sarah.

Commercial.--Quilled decorative spray pot mum and garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Quilled decorative.

Diameter across face.--63 to 75 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of threemeters).--Yellow-orange.

Color (upper surface).--Open tubes near center 13A; open quills nearperiphery 13C.

Color (under surface).--Lower surface of outer quills closest to 13C.

Shape.--Tubular, straight.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14A to 14B.

Color (immature).--Yellow, tinged with 144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Short.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--See photograph.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF SARAH AND BALLERINA                                             CHARACTERISTIC  SARAH        BALLERINA                                        ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                              Yellow-orange                                                                              White                                            Capitulum Form and Type                                                                       Quilled      Quilled                                                          decorative   decorative                                       Branching pattern                                                                             Spreading    Upright                                                          and prolific                                                  Controlled Response                                                                           8 weeks      7 weeks                                          Average Natural Season                                                        Flower date:                                                                  In Salinas, California:                                                                       September 4  August 27                                        In Hightstown, New Jersey:                                                                    October 5    September 29                                     ______________________________________                                        Comparisons Made of Plants Grown                                              Under Natural Season Outdoor Conditions                                       In Salinas, California and in Hightstown, New Jersey                          ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Sarah, asdescribed and illustrated.